Israel's desire to acquire additional ..F-35 is likely to be advanced even if Washington does not agree to increase the level of Foreign Military Financing (FMF) made available to the nation. The Israeli government has asked its US counterpart for a 10-year FMF package that will include an annual grant of $4.1 billion. Negotiations are continuing in an effort to reach agreement while US President Barack Obama is still in office.

However, speaking on 13 April, Israeli sources said the purchase of additional F-35s is "already in the pipeline", regardless of whether the requested funding increase is approved.

Israel has signed contracts for the purchase of 33 conventional take-off and landing F-35As. ..and deliveries are expected to begin early next year. The Israeli air force .. with the further units to enable it to equip two squadrons.

......I believe this is the first time for the Israeli F-35 program where they are showing an "evident" interest in the F-35 by spending Israeli money (not in the FMF budget). Has this occurred in previous types, F-15/16s ???

Perhaps a moment of pause for the program doubters, when a user who will "fight" with the a/c pays for additional a/c. A bit different from those who will cruise around in "airshows (a-a intercepts/ escorts)" or engaging only ground pounders.

neptune wrote:Perhaps a moment of pause for the program doubters, when a user who will "fight" with the a/c pays for additional a/c. A bit different from those who will cruise around in "airshows (a-a intercepts/ escorts)" or engaging only ground pounders.

Not really, for them any politicians/military brass who want the F-35 were obviously paid off by LockMart, so to them this just means LockMart paid them more and now they're going to go back to the government to wring more money out of the taxpayers.

neptune wrote:Perhaps a moment of pause for the program doubters, when a user who will "fight" with the a/c pays for additional a/c. A bit different from those who will cruise around in "airshows (a-a intercepts/ escorts)" or engaging only ground pounders.

Not really, for them any politicians/military brass who want the F-35 were obviously paid off by LockMart, so to them this just means LockMart paid them more and now they're going to go back to the government to wring more money out of the taxpayers.

The goal posts shift all the time. First it was "let's see what the test pilots say!" Then they approved. So it was "let's see what the operational pilots say!" Then they approved so it was "let's see what the F-22 pilots say!" And they approved. then it shifTed with the A-10 to "well let's see what the grunts say!" And the JTACS and A-10 guys approved. Hell even the DOT&E guys are saying F-35 is going to be great. The international partners especially israel which is well respected approve.

"The Israeli air force's chief flight test engineer wants an early as possible delivery of its Lockheed Martin F-35 test asset, to expedite the process of adapting locally-produced weapon systems to the aircraft.

Israel's contracts for the F-35I "Adir" include a test example, which will be operated by its flight-test centre.

According to the centre's chief flight-test engineer – identified only as Lt Col Ori – the test aircraft will also have an operational capability, but its main duty will be to enable the development of Israeli systems to enhance the F-35's combat capabilities for Israel.

"We will have to test Israeli-made weapons systems, so that they can be carried in the weapons bay of the aircraft – and test it under different situations," he says.

Israel's first two F-35s are scheduled to land in the nation on 12 December. Adaptations for its air force include enabling the fighter to carry Rafael's Python 5 and Derby air-to-air missiles, along with the same company's Litening 5 targeting pod.

Another six F-35s will be delivered to Israel in 2017, with its air force having so far committed to acquiring an additional 25 conventional take-off and landing examples."

It’s two weeks to the touchdown of the world’s most advanced fighter jet in Israel.29 Nov 2016 ANNA AHRONHEIM

"...Nonetheless, Israel is still said to be considering acquiring the F-35B Lightning II short takeoff/vertical landing jets. According to Lockheed Martin, the B variant “is designed to operate from austere bases and a range of air-capable ships near front line combat zones. It can also take off and land conventionally from longer runways on major bases.” This could be crucial at times of war when air force bases – and particularly runways – will likely be hit by enemy missiles and rockets.

On Sunday, the security cabinet decided unanimously to purchase an additional 17 F-35s, bringing the number of the advanced jets in the IAF to 50On Sunday, the security cabinet decided unanimously to purchase an additional 17 F-35s, bringing the number of the advanced jets in the IAF to 50."

Israel's first two F-35s are scheduled to land in the nation on 12 December. Adaptations for its air force include enabling the fighter to carry Rafael's Python 5 and Derby air-to-air missiles, along with the same company's Litening 5 targeting pod.

"...Rafael’s “image-based common targeting language,” also known as Matchguide, is integrated in the new pod. This allows rapid target handoff between the targeting pod or ground-based forward air controller and guided weapons carried on board. Matchguide is fully integrated in the Litening 5, enabling the pilot or ground controller to designate a target simply by touching its image on a display to deliver the targeting as coordinates or a scene to the attacking weapon. This method dramatically shortens the “sensor to shooter cycle.”..."

",,,Future developmentsRafael sees an increased market in the future because of the move to stealth platforms which must have targeting systems built in. The company is developing a new model to compete for the F-35 requirement. At present prototype F-35's have the equivalent of a Lockheed Martin Sniper XR built in."

",,,Future developmentsRafael sees an increased market in the future because of the move to stealth platforms which must have targeting systems built in. The company is developing a new model to compete for the F-35 requirement. At present prototype F-35's have the equivalent of a Lockheed Martin Sniper XR built in."

"...The longer-than-expected development path for the Lockheed Martin F-35 has played some part in the good fortunes of its rivals – but bar Canada, all its expected participants remain on board. Japan has just received its first example to support training, and the lead two F-15Is will head for Israel in mid-December. The Lightning II has a long way to go on its path to becoming combat-ready, but our directory shows the in-service fleet as having now reached 167 units...."

"TEL AVIV – Israel’s scheduled Dec. 12 receipt of its first pair of F-35I Adir (Awesome) fighters caps nearly a decade of planning, and that’s all before a single Israel Air Force pilot has actually taken to the skies in its new stealth weapon.

Israeli pilots have been training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona for more than a year, but unlike F-35 compatriots from the US, Norway, Australia and other nations who are actually flying the fifth-generation fighter, Israel has elected to limit pilot training to course work and the high-fidelity simulator built by prime contractor Lockheed Martin.

“We haven’t yet flown on the plane. That was our choice,” a general officer on the Israel Air Force (IAF) headquarters staff told Defense News.

“Decades ago, when we prepared for our first F-15s and F-16s, we needed to fly in the aircraft. But today, the situation is different for two key reasons: Firstly, the simulators are so reliable and secondly, it’s a single-seater. So it doesn’t matter if we fly here or there, because there’s no instructor up there with you in the cockpit,” the senior officer said.

He added, “We’ve gone through extensive simulator training and we’ve received all the information we needed through wonderful cooperation. … From our point of view, once they land here on 12 December, we’re ready to fly.”...

...Col. Asaf, the deputy commander of the F-35I’s designated home base at Nevatim, told reporters here that work to stand up the new Adir Squadron started about 18 months ago. The officer, whose surname was withheld for security reasons, said the sprawling base – one of three built after the 1979 peace treaty with Egypt – would house five operational squadrons, including the new 140th Squadron of new F-35Is....